Geraardsbergen is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Geraardsbergen proper and the towns of Goefferdinge, Grimminge, Idegem, Moerbeke, Nederboelare, Nieuwenhove, Onkerzele, Ophasselt, Overboelare, Schendelbeke, Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem, Viane, Waarbeke, Zandbergen and Zarlardinge. On January 1st, 2006 Geraardsbergen had a total population of 31,380. The total area is 79.71 km˛ which gives a population density of 394 inhabitants per km˛. The current mayor of Geraardsbergen is Freddy De Chou, from the SP-A (Socialist) party. Geraardsbergen is known as Grammont in French.
The city got into the news in July 2006 after loads of pornographic material was dumped at a nearby field. This material was left over from the open air erotic festival Imagination 69, which had failed to meet the turnout expectations. The news about this "crop" spread quickly and porn-lovers were seen stuffing their bags with the free X-rated books, magazines and DVDs.
